Friday, September 28, 2012

Every year I watch the first couple of episodes of any of the new Fall TV show on the Major networks that sound like they might be interesting to me. This year, one was called Revolution. It airs on NBC, Monday nights at 8 or 9 PM.

It's the show that was obviously pitched on the heels of the popularity of "Hunger Games". It appears to have a teenage or early 20's female lead & is set in a post-apocalyptic type time period.

Don't be fooled though. The actress in this one is awful and she's no Katniss. I was wondering how on earth she landed this role, but then I came across her semi-nude photos. Her acting is incredibly bad for a major network. She might be alright in a Syfy monster movie, but even that would be pushing it. Is this really the best they could find? Also, she's NOT really the main character. She has yet to use that Katniss looking bow we've seen in the promos either. Two episodes in and it appears the real main character is her Uncle. He's a Han Solo type character played by actor Billy Burke (Party of Five, Twilight Movies, 24, Rizzoli & Isles). He is carrying the show. He's also the only interesting thing in the show.

So far, in the first two episodes every female character has had an emotional meltdown with tears. I might (I said might) be able to over look that if it wasn't set 15 YEARS after the fall of civilization. These female characters are weak, hysterical, and many times make no sense at all in the choices they make. Our lead female has already been saved at least 3 times by a male. She has an almost creepy attachment to her brother as well. Her brother who looks to be 25 but is talked about & handled like he is 8. She stopped her Uncle from killing a bounty hunter which ended up being a bad thing. She cries...a lot. OMG, seriously.

I always hated female characters in dystopia's that do nothing but cry. Did Sarah Connor cry? Yes. Yes she did. Once. Then she got over it & did what needed to be done. She had a damn good reason to cry as well. These women? Ugh. Pathetic. One of the characters cries over her cell phone explaining that it's the only thing that she has with pictures of her children. Because there is no power she can't use it and she's almost forgotten what they look like. OMG...seriously?

I can't count the number of times in the first two episodes that all the women have needed saved by big mean men. Somehow, they managed to make it the first 15 years, but suddenly, they are all damsels in distress. They've all suffered some sort of family loss that they cry about. The men however, are fighters. They might have lost loved ones to, but we don't know, because they don't cry about it every 15 minutes.

The dialogue is terrible. Eric Kripke writes repetitive, emotionless, and rather pointless dialog. Characters ask questions, get an answer & then respond by asking the same question again. I don't know how many times I found myself yelling at a female character, "He just told you!" or "He already answered that question!"

Now, let's get to the men. We have a very Obama-esque looking fellow riding around taking away people's guns & enforcing the rules of Monroe's republic. His group spy on people, beat people up, kill people for breaking rules, and work for Monroe. Monroe is a white dude that used to be our hero's Uncle's friend. They did computer stuff together. Somehow, in 15 years, Monroe has taken control of the entire region around Chicago and most of the country but has been unable to find his "friend". So now, 15 years later, that is his goal. Because he thinks the Uncle knows how to "turn the power back on".

Despite the fact that mansions are empty, huge cathedrals are vacant & a person could pretty much set up a really sweet pad, our bad guy lives in a tent. We know absolutely zero about his motivations. All we know is that he used to know out female lead's Uncle & they appeared to be on friendly terms and he used to know something about computers. Now, the Uncle, Miles, has been hanging out, bartending in Chicago. There's a nice little set-up in Chicago. The bar looks swanky. For some reason though, Monroe wants no part of that. He's happy in his tent. In the middle of nowhere. Surrounded by antiques. There is no mention of any women or children in his life. Hmmm.....

We also have the nerd. So far he is pointless, knows nothing and complains a lot. Despite 15 years of dystopia, he looks like he eats at the golden corral every day and has a bag of cheesy puffs every night. his sort of a hipster douchbag. He complains about everything & tends to mock our characters. He just stands there when anyone is put in danger. Why the hell is he even here?

We get glimpses of this device that appears to be a flash drive. Miles has one & one of the other characters has one. She plugs it in & we hear the sound of a old school modem. She, and only she, seems to have electricity to run her computer. We are led to believe the flash drives contain the information on how to turn the power back on.

Let me say this though. This is the most non-dystopia dystopia I have ever seen. It seriously is like there was a black-out just yesterday in this storyline. There is no new technology that has developed in the past 15 years. There are no uses of wind energy or solar energy. There's no science anywhere. People aren't really at all suffering. They don't really even seem inconvenienced. We get cool shot of grown over cities and for some reason there is a swamp outside of Chicago now, but other than that life seems to be going along swimmingly. I'm not seeing the suffering or the trying to cope problems. I'm not seeing people struggling. Why & how Monroe arose is rather puzzling. Why on earth people allow him to set rules & bully them is also strange. People look strong & healthy and have weapons. Not guns, but crossbows, regular bows, swords, knives, etc. There are far more of them then there are of Monroe & his men. Monroe doesn't seem to be giving the people anything either. No security, no goods, no positive incentives. Just bullying & forcing his world view on everyone.

Overall, this show is lame & disappointing. The characters are thin & uninteresting as well as just plain dumb. The women are a cliche of the over emotional hysterical house wife of the last century. The men brute loner barbarians or whiny hipsters that fight over everything rather than come together to solve problems. The setting is a paradise of a dystopia & the plot, in merely two episodes, is no surprise, generic, and told in a completely boring manner. Don't waste your time with this one. I usually give a show three episodes, but honestly, I don't think I can stomach another one.

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Way back in 1987, on this day, a show premiered on CBS that I fell in love with. CBS Television's version of the old Fairy Tale, Beauty and the Beast. I was hooked from the first episode.

I already knew who Linda Hamilton was from Children of the Corn & the original Terminator. I liked her in the Terminator. She was real. Not dolled up, fake, super skinny, but real. And kinda hot. She was the lead, Beauty or in this case, Catherine Chandler.

Then there was the Beast, played by Ron Perlman. OMG. *Swoon* The Beast, Vincent, was gorgeous. Plus, he was totally into Shakespeare and romantic poetry. He appreciated art & music & dance. He was sensitive, yet barbaric. Absolutely PERFECT.

For my High School Graduation present and after much begging & doing all the work to figure out tickets & hotel, my parent's drove to Austin, TX in 1993 to a Beauty and the Beast Convention. It was one of the best experiences of my life. Mostly due to Edward Albert and David Schwartz, who took me under their wings & made me feel like the whole thing was happening just for me. I was sitting in the back of the Costume Workshop on the first day, all by myself, and Edward Albert, who played Catherine's other love interest, Eliot Burch, snuck in & quietly sat in the seat next to me.

I was incredibly excited, but remained calm. He leaned over and whispered if I knew what this was. I smiled and answered. He sat with me for about 5 more minutes. Just me & him at the back of the room. He then leaned in and said he was going to go check out the other stuff. I said okay. I was so giddy. I waited a little longer, jumped up, and ran to tell my Mom!

(Sketch by Jen Tucker 1993)

I was right in the middle of telling her, when he walked up, put his arm around me & said, "Hello." to my Mom. I was grinning from ear to ear. He hung out with me all day it seemed. We talked about other stuff he was working on & how he was filming in Russia while the USSR was still crumbling and it was becoming the Russian Federation & how the whole crew got caught between sets of tanks with their guns pointed at each other. We talked about Linda & Ron & he only had the most wonderful things to say about them. He was the one that told me Linda was fired/let go/quit (unfairly) for not wanting to breath in all that tunnel smoke while she was pregnant.

That night at the special dinner, every table got a celebrity. I didn't get Edward & David. Edward came over and apologized. I thought that was sweet. There was a charity auction for his presence at your table. I think it went for a thousand or more. Beauty and the Beast fans were called "Helpers" after people that lived in the Tunnels in the show. They were always wonderful at raising money for charity events. I did get to sit with a guy I'm sure you'll recognize now. George R.R. Martin. He was one of the Writer's for the show. He was very pleasant & funny & helped swipe a table center piece for me to take home as a souvenir. They were supposed to be raffled. I still have it.

(I will post a pick of it later)

Finally, after the dinner came the celebrity auction. Edward asked me what I wanted more than anything & how much money I had. I only had 50 bucks. Actually, I didn't have any, but my Brother said he wanted to give me $50 for Graduation. I told him I'd be happy to get an autographed pic of Linda Hamilton. He & David looked at each other & grinned. Edward went & changed & came out in the original costume Ron Perlman had worn as Vincent. I got to touch it. It was so cool seeing it in person. The auction dragged on & I attempted to get a few items but always ended up outbid. The last item was an autographed picture of Vincent that Linda had signed. They started the bidding at $20. David told me to bid $50. I said $50 & Edward shouted going, going, gone and didn't let anyone else bid. David brought it to my table, gave me a big kiss on the cheek & said, "There ya go sweetie." I almost cried.

(I will post the autograph pic here)

David (he was a producer, btw) mentioned he was meeting with both Linda & Ron about doing "Love Letters" together the following weekend. Before the end of the night I politely asked if there was any way David could take my picture with him and have Ron sign it at well. Without hesitation he said, "Absolutely!"

I wrote my address down for him, he stuck it in his wallet/appointment book thing & I handed over the picture. It arrived not more than 3 or 4 days after he met with them with Ron's autograph added. I always smile when I look at it. Thinking about that night, that day, the magic.

That show was really magic. It was wonderful & beautiful & tragic. Much like real life. Edward Albert asked me if he would see me the next day & I told him no. My parents were only allowing me one day of the three. We were headed to the beach from Austin. He was genuinely disappointed. He asked who he would hang out with. I hugged him good-bye & told him I'm sure he would find someone. He was too handsome not to.

(Autograph thing here)

I cried before I got back to my room. I couldn't help it. It was the only time I ever remember crying from being so happy. If this show hadn't existed, then that moment wouldn't have happened. If Edward Albert, David Schwartz, George R.R. Martin & all the others that saw what that moment was for me hadn't been so kind & amazing to me that weekend, it would have just been another convention. Fun, but nothing special. I will be eternally grateful to them for that. The world lost a wonderful man when Edward Albert passed away in 2006. I've heard many other wonderful stories of his kindness. Seems he was quite the Knight in Shining Armor.

So, Happy Anniversary Beauty and the Beast. Happy Anniversary to all those Helpers still out there. Be well. Grab a copy of Shakespeare's Sonnets, make some hot tea or coffee, and curl up tonight and watch the Pilot Episode. Netflix is streaming it.

A new version of Catherine & Vincent hits the CW network this fall. I'll probably watch it, but I know in my heart it will never compare. How could it?

Monday, September 24, 2012

As I've mentioned before, and recently, I love Sailor Moon. It's one of those totally girly things that I just can't get enough of. I mean, a bunch of girls that get along & can work as a team! How much more mythical can you get? Of course these girls have super powers, so that helps. Seriously though, it's a great show about love & friendship & acceptance.

The outer Sailor Soldiers are my absolute favorites. They are older girls. Haruka Tenoh & Michiru Kaioh or Sailor Uranus & Sailor Neptune especially. After the end of Xena, T& I really wanted to find another couple of bad ass chicks that kicked butt together. These two were totally it! Haruka rides a motorcycle & gets mistaken for a really cute guy by the younger scouts at first. Whenever Haruka & Michiru show up anywhere not as Sailor Soldiers, this really elegant music plays, and the younger scouts are always awestruck.
Sailor Moon Super was INTENSE! There's this whole episode where Sailor Uranus & Sailor Neptune get all shot up & are dying & Sailor Moon is bawling, and I'm bawling & T's bawling, and OMG guys! You have to watch the entire Sailor Moon Super series. For real.

In the US dubs of Sailor Moon, these two were "cousins". LMAO. Um, yeah, they ain't cousins kids. Just like Xena & Gabrielle weren't just "best friends". LMAO. Oh, America...making them cousins makes it really weird. And wrong. So wrong.

Anyhoo, that's a whole 'nother issue in itself. Right now over at Hot Topic.com and in their stores, they have really sweet Sailor Scout stuff including Haruka & Michiru stuff! Belts & shirts! SaWeet! I bought T the Sailor Uranus one the day of her book signing at 50 Penn Place. I'm going to get myself the Haruka one ASAP. Right now hottopic.com has Buy one, get one for 50% off on all their non-clearanced T-shirts!

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Attention Ghostbusters fans! Head over to Entertainment Earth & check out their Summer Clearance Sale if you want those 8 inch MEGO type Ghostbusters dolls/figures of Peter, Ray & Egon. They have them right now, in stock, for $14.70 each.

I can't tell you how much I am enjoying these Mythos statues from Sideshow Collectibles. The newest one is one of my favorite Star Wars creatures. The Gamorrean Guard. You know, the pig guards in Jedi. Now, I can't exactly say it's beautiful, but it is awesome.

It is available for pre-order Sept. 13 & will run $324.99.

Mythos statues are generally 18 inches high. I'm guessing this one is around the same.

Tuesday, September 04, 2012

17 years ago on this very day, the very first episode of a show that changed my life aired. "Sins of the Past", the very first episode of Xena Warrior Princess filled the airways. Almost a year to the day, on Sept. 3, 1996, I met some chick named Turayis online. In channel xenafan on IRC. 16 years later I still have my Bard.

If that wasn't amazing enough, Turayis' book was released today in stores. Today is the official release/laydown date. What are the chances?! That a girl from a small town in Ohio, Piqua, which sounds sort of like Gabrielle's hometown Potedia, would leave her home to follow me around. Me, A girl born in a city that starts with the same letter as Xena's birth place, Amphipolis. Who knew that girl would end up actually becoming a Bard, just like her hero on TV? Pretty cool stuff. I can't believe these two dates happened to coincide.

About Me

Hello. I'm Jen Tucker. I'm an artist and a Children's book author. I wrote and Illustrated "The Chicken Story". I love Star Wars. I've been collecting since I was around 3. I also love riding around on my motorcycle, a Honda Shadow Spirit. I absolutely love Xena: Warrior Princess. Best TV show EVER! Since 1996 I have share my life with a bard named Turayis (after an Amazon Princess). She writes screenplays & books. We adopted a couple of pups, a Chiweenie named Leela Boo in 2007 & a Chihuahua named Oswin Pond in 2013. Together, we have great adventures & enjoy creating new worlds & new characters as well as exploring new places around the world.